Sat.May 19, 2012 - Fri.May 25, 2012

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BetterWorks Shutting Down On May 31st

socalTECH

In what is a huge blow to Silicon Beach, Santa Monica-based BetterWorks , the software-and-technology-meets-employee-perks startup run by Paige Craig, told its users today that it is sunsetting its site on May 31st. According to an email from Craig, the company decided to close down the BettterWorks perk platform, and will not longer be active after next Thursday.

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6 Steps To Raising Venture Capital – Hint: Preparation Matters More Than Your Pitch

InfoChachkie

“One of the big misconceptions in baseball is that playing the game keeps you in shape to pitch. I wish that was true. It’s not.” Steven Ellis, Professional Pitcher. Major League baseball pitchers spend far more time preparing to pitch than they actually do pitching. The same should be true of an entrepreneur who is attempting to secure money from sophisticated investors.

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Los Angeles Startup Events

SoCal CTO

I recently posted about the Increase in Early-Stage Startup Activity in Los Angeles. In that post, I mentioned how one of the signals is the big increase in number of startup events and the number of attendees at those events. I realized that it has been a little while since I posted about the Los Angeles Startup Community and so needed to update my list of startup events that will be out of date almost before I finish publishing it.

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Really do think outside the box.

Berkonomics

Creative entrepreneurs find niches for their business that are not full of competitors fighting over the last dollar of margin, or niches that are mature and shrinking in size. They search for areas unexplored, or those covered by companies with less of a vision for quality, service or innovation. But even creative entrepreneurs are often trapped inside the box of their experience.

Training 159
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Can You Ask for Office Rent Relief? How to Manage Your Lease During COVID-19

Office leases are one of companies’ largest expenses, and if your whole team is working from home with no clear end in sight, you may be wondering what to do about your lease.

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MergeLocal Pays Users For Checkins

socalTECH

A new Los Angeles startup, MergeLocal , launched this week, releasing an iPhone app which pays users to check into their favorite places around town. The app--created by Michael Wong, Steven Elliott and Rusty Jenkins--allows users to check into restaurants, bars, spas, and alons, and receive points for checking into those locations. Those points can be exchanged for cash payments through PayPal.

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Social Media School -

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, May 31, 2012 -- Social Media School. It's time to stop wondering about the best ways to use Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Quora, Pinterest and other social platforms for personal and professional use. Come to Social Media School with Woodside Media Group and Fifty and Five and learn numerous best practices. Bring your computer and get ready to immerse yourself for three hours and learn valuable information.

More Trending

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You Can’t Be the Victim as an Entrepreneur

Startup Professionals Musings

People with a victim mentality should never be entrepreneurs. We all know the role of starting and running a business is unpredictable, and has a high risk of failure. For people with a victim mentality, this fear of failure alone will almost certainly make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. I’m sure you all know someone who is the perennial victim. The problem is that most of these people aren’t likely to accept your assessment, so it’s hard to help them.

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Interview with Scott Ferreira, MySocialCloud

socalTECH

If you were a student in college, working on a startup idea, what would spur you to drop your education plans, and go full time on your startup? For Scott Ferreira , the founder of MySocialCloud.com (www.mysocialcloud.com), it was an investment from Sir Richard Branson and Jerry Murdock. We talked with Scott--who until recently, was a student at the University of Southern California--about how he created his company and how that investment from Branson pushed him to take his startup full time.

Startup 239
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The Israel Conference

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, May 31, 2012 -- The Israel Conference. Israeli innovation and inventiveness are palpable at The Israel Conference, an international business conference held in Los Angeles on May 31 and June 1, 2012. Now in its fourth year, The Israel Conference is a high energy nexus point for Israel-facing businesses, investors, and high profile decision makers looking to build business relationships, network, and elevate their companies stature in the tech, gaming, ecommerce, advertising, mobile,

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You Can Compete with Free-and Win

Frank Addante

A good product is always more valuable than the free alternative, even when you sell yo-yo upgrades. I recently visited a colleague at home, where I met his 10-year-old son. When prompted by his dad, the boy--let's call him Andrew--told me about the yo-yo business he had founded with a classmate. Andrew and his partner offer services to repair and upgrade yo-yos for tricks with new parts like extra-long string and inner-gear modifications.

Oracle 111
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Startups Are All About the Execution, So Tell Me How

Startup Professionals Musings

When entrepreneurs come to me with that “million dollar idea,” I have to tell them that an idea alone is really worth nothing. It’s all about the execution, and investors invest in the people who can execute, or even better, have a history of successful execution. Execution is making things happen, and for startups it usually means making change happen, which is even more difficult.

Startup 103
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Fundable Takes On Crowdfunding For Startups

socalTECH

A new startup, headed by entrepreneur Wil Schroter, has launched this week, looking to make it easier for startups to raise funding. Santa Monica- and Columbus, Ohio-based Fundable said that it is looking to provide a crowdfunding platform for "serious startups". The site allow early stage startups to gain capital from anyone, using the new JOBS Act to raise money from anyone interested in a startup, and not just professional investors and banks.

Startup 224
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Bootstrappers Breakfast - San Diego

SoCal Tech Calendar

Friday, May 25, 2012 -- Bootstrappers Breakfast - San Diego. Join Other Entrepreneurs Who Eat Problems For Breakfast. * Compare Notes * Exchange Ideas * Learn from Others Mistakes * Brainstorm with Peers. See [link] events@skmurphy.com 408-252-9676.

San Diego 113
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Should the FDA Regulate Mobile Health Apps?

Tech Zulu Event

Is a mobile health app a medical device? Should an app that shows you how many steps you’ve taken be regulated exactly the same way as a blood glucose monitor? According to the FDA the answer is yes, and if pending legislation passes in the U.S. House of Representatives it could sound a death knell for innovation in the healthcare sector. Here’s the issue.

Mobile 93
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6 Key Attributes of a Winning Business Culture

Startup Professionals Musings

I’m seeing a renewed appreciation of culture and values in business these days. Maybe it’s just another example of nature abhorring a vacuum, but I prefer to think it’s a natural evolution of the pervasive social networking communities, where people relate to and expect to interact with businesses and products they like. They drive the market, rather than the other way around.

Startup 100
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Lifecrowd, EventUp Team Up

socalTECH

Two of the newest startups to emerge out of Southern California's technology and accelerator scene, Lifecrowd , and Eventup , are partnering, to join Lifecrowd's social activities site with Eventup's service to help people book exclusive private residences and locations for their events. According to the two, they will showcase "distinctive" Eventup locations with Lifecrowd's activities, through a series of events.

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Salford Analytics and Data Mining Conference 2012

SoCal Tech Calendar

Friday, May 25, 2012 -- Salford Analytics and Data Mining Conference 2012. The 2012 Salford Analytics and Data Mining Conference is aimed at bringing together researchers, practitioners, and data mining enthusiasts to learn about data mining technology from practical and theoretical experts.

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NewFronts | Monetizing Digital Content [Live]

Tech Zulu Event

Join us tonight at 8pm right here on TechZulu for the live stream of the NewFront panel. This is your LA chance to meet the shows in LA! Speakers will introduce their new shows debuting this spring, including shows that were pitched at the NewFronts, YouTube-funded shows and other original shows. We’ll discuss how content studios are monetizing this content via advertising, sponsorship, show integration and more.

Content 80
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10 Concrete Steps to Assure Business Innovation

Startup Professionals Musings

Continuous innovation is required to survive in all businesses, beginning with a startup, and increasing in importance as your business matures. Technologists often insist that new things can’t be invented on a schedule, but successful companies seem to be able to do it on a regular basis. Many people have tried to define a process for innovation, but most are too abstract for me.

Coach 98
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Fastpoint Games Acquired By Weplay

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based Fastpoint Games , the developer of virtual fantasy sports games which was headed by Kelly Perdew, has been sold to Los Angeles-based WePlay , Weplay announced Monday. Financial terms of the buy were not disclosed. WePlay, which is headed by Lane Soelberg, said the deal will launch it into the fantasy sports sector, allowing users of its site to create their own teams and play in fantasy leagues.

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L.A. By Design

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, May 31, 2012 -- SoCalBio Networking Forum in Los Angeles County: "L.A. By Design" Mastering the Nuances of Design to Win in an Increasing Competitive MedTech Scape.

Design 113
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Big Data Drives: Intertwining Business and Technology

Tech Zulu Event

“Some say data is the new black,” laughs former Linkedin data scientist, DJ Patil on stage during the Mesh Conference in Toronto, Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Patil’s presentation ‘Managing Life in a Chaotic World via Data,’ starts with an audience experiment to show us that “we are all data products,” according to Patil.

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7 Reasons for Entrepreneurs to ‘First Know Thyself’

Startup Professionals Musings

If you are going to be a real entrepreneur, it’s important that you know yourself well. After all, you won’t have a direct manager charged with giving you feedback, and your team probably will be afraid to tell you what they really think. Entrepreneurs need to recognize their own strengths and limitations. In any case, your skills, talent, knowledge, personality, and strengths are your best assets as an entrepreneur.

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SpaceX Launch Puts Star Trek's Scotty Into Space

socalTECH

The successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this morning, and the Dragon capsule, is set to make history with a docking of the International Space Station. It's also finally delivered the ashes of actor James Doohan, who played Scotty in the 1960's television series and subsequent "Star Trek" movies. Apparently, Doohan's ashes were delivered to space as part of a payload agreement with SpaceX and Celestis, which sells delivery of the deceased into space.

SpaceX 210
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Getting Value Out of Intellectual Property in Foreign Countries

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, May 31, 2012 -- Getting Value Out of Intellectual Property in Foreign Countries. OCTANe. Companies often employ a U.S.-based approach to developing their intellectual property strategy, and overlook the need to develop a specific plan for addressing foreign markets. This presentation will cover: A review of strategies for positioning patent applications for foreign markets.

OCTANE 100
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You Can Compete with Free-and Win

Frank Addante

A good product is always more valuable than the free alternative, even when you sell yo-yo upgrades. I recently visited a colleague at home, where I met his 10-year-old son, Andrew. When prompted by his dad, the boy told me about the yo-yo business he had founded with a classmate. I recently visited a colleague at home, where I met his 10-year-old son.

Oracle 63
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The Wrong Advisory Board Will Hurt Your Startup

Startup Professionals Musings

If you are an entrepreneur for the first time, or entering a new business area, it’s usually worth your time to assemble an Advisory Board of two or three executives who have travelled that road before. But if you select the wrong people, or use them incorrectly, the impact will not be positive for your company or your image. For perspective, you need to remember that boards of advisors, unlike directors, have no formal power or fiduciary duties, but rather serve at the pleasure of you the busin

Startup 93
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ShareSquare Unveils New Mobile Restaurant Service, TacoGrid

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based ShareSquare , the developer of mobile marketing services founded by Matthias Galica, said today that it is targeting the restaurant industry with a new service called TacoGrid. The firm said that TacoGrid will automatically general mobile site for restaurants, aimed at restaurants in the top 50 cities in the U.S., which will feature menus from SinglePlatform, and tips and specials from Foursquare.

Mobile 205
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Green Business Base Camp

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, May 31, 2012 -- Green Business Base Camp. The Green Business BASE CAMP custom curriculum and format breaks down the barriers to success for entrepreneurs. You will learn from seasoned and serial entrepreneurs about how to avoid some of the costly lessons that can be the critical difference between making or breaking your early stage company.

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It’s Morning in Venture Capital

Both Sides of the Table

This article originally ran on PEHub. If you prefer the super short version – I’ve summarized the post in the final section. Many observers of the venture capital industry have questioned whether its best days are behind it. They are frustrated by the past decade of subpar returns for the sector. The most recent report to weigh in on the troubles of the industry was produced by the esteemed Kauffman Foundation.

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8 Clues that Your Business Honeymoon May be Over

Startup Professionals Musings

Starting a business is a lot like starting a marriage. At first, all parties are in dreamland, with a vision of changing the world, having lots of fun, and raking in the profits. But all too soon, reality sets in. Product development is stuck at that 90% mark, a key person leaves, and customers are talking but not buying. In his book Reality Check , Guy Kawasaki summarizes some of the key issues.

Startup 91
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DocStoc Goes App Happy With 30 Apps

socalTECH

Santa Monica-based Docstoc , the business document sharing and online small business site run by Jason Nazar, has gone app happy, saying today that it has launched 30, free iPhone and iPad apps aimed at the small business and entrepreneur market. The apps--which range from advice on how to get a job interview or venture capital, to sales techniques and HR advice--cover a wide range of small business topics.

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The Israel Conference

SoCal Tech Calendar

Thursday, May 31, 2012 -- The Israel Conference. May 31 and June 1, 2012. The Israel Conference is a fast-paced business conference showcasing the vitality and growth of Israel-facing business through a variety of panels on hot industry topics and trends with world-class speakers and high-quality networking. The Israel Conference brings together leading innovators and investors High Tech / Entertainment Media / Advertising / Mobile / Content / Gaming / e-Commerce / Energy / Clean Tech / Security

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Xfire Partners With Southeast Asian Gaming Site

socalTECH

Los Angeles-based Xfire is continuing its expansion into Southeast Asia with a new partnership, the firm said today, with Southeast Asian games publisher SEA Gaming. According to the two, SEA Gaming will integrate Xfire's online gaming utility into its massively multiplayer online games offerings. Financial details of the deal were not announced. Xfire develops chat and communications tools which allow videogame players to talk with their friends, take screenshots and capture videos, and more.

Sites 196
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SpaceX Dragon Approaches ISS, Set For Docking Friday

socalTECH

The historic mission to the International Space Station by Hawthorne-based SpaceX progressed further Wednesday, after NASA reported that SpaceX successfully completed an approach to the ISS. The SpaceX Dragon passed directly below the ISS, 2.5 km from the space station, part of testing before a closer approach which will lead to the docking of the SpaceX Dragon with the station on Friday.

SpaceX 187
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Disney Merchandises Mobile Game Where's My Water

socalTECH

Burbank-based Disney Mobile and Disney Consumer Products announced this morning that they are merchandising products from its mobile game, Where's My Water? Disney said it will take Swampy, the main character of the game, to licensees and retailers. The deal includes links with Hasbro, JAKKS Pacific/CDI, and Toys "R" Us. Where's My Water runs on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android, and features Swampy the alligator, challenging users to direct water to help him get a bath.

Mobile 185